Apple celling and slicing machine



Oct. 8, 1957 R. A. GANZE APPLE CELLING AND SLICING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 11, 1954 IN V EN TOR. RONALD A GANZE ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1957 Filed Oct. 11,

R. A. GANZE APPLE CELLING AND SLICING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY Oct. 8, 1957 GANZE 2,808,864

. APPLE CELLING AND SLICING MACHINE I Filed 001:. 11, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. I RONALD A. GAIVZE Fla. 7

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APPLE CELLING AND SLICING MACHINE Ronald A. Gauze, Marion, N. Y., assignor to F. B. Pease Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 11, 1954, fierial N 461,627

11 Claims. (Cl. 146-40) My invention relates to machines for slicing and seedcelling apples and similar fruits.

In preparing apples for cooking, cann1ng, drymg or freezing, it is the established commercial practice to first pare and core the apples in a machine designed for this purpose. After inspection, the apples are then fed into a machine where their seed-cells are removed and the apples are sliced radially into any desired number of segments.

This invention relates to the latter machine, a common type of which includes a rotatable spindle for receiving the cored holes of a succession of apples which are moved along the spindle in succession to be seed-celled and sliced. The apples are dropped over the rotating spindle and guided by their cored holes to the slicing blades. Each apple is partly pierced by the slicing blades and is held against rotation by these blades in its partially severed condition while the seed-cells are being removed. Seedcelling is effected by a rotary seed-celling knife which is secured to the rotating spindle and which rotates adjacent the center of the apple cutting away the seedcells or carpel tissue containing the seeds. After seed celling, each apple is pushed completely through the slicing blades to complete the slicing operation. Reference is made to my co-pending application entitled Apple Celling and Slicing Machine, Serial No. 301,478, filed July 29, 1952, now Patent No. 2,750,976.

One of the problems encountered in seed-celling and slicing apples results from variations in the apples. The apples vary in size and degree of hardness which in turn primarily depends upon the variety of apple and upon Whether the apples are fully ripe. Notwithstanding these variations and particularly the size of the apple, since the seed-celling knife is fixed with respect to the rotating spindle the apples must be pushed to' the same relative position with respect to the seed-celling knife to secure accurate seed-celling. That is, the apples are pushed by a mechanical hand along the spindle and into partial slicing engagement with the slicing knives and into a position such that the seed-celling knife may perform its intended function. In the case of large apples, in the machines of the prior art the apples were not always centered with respect to'the seed-celling knife, because the mechanical hand always terminated its downward position of movement at the same point. The machines of the prior art were designed for the average size of apple; Apples of smaller or larger than average size were inaccurately seed-celled.

An object of my invention is to provide a simple seedcelling and slicing machine particularly designed for apples in which the apples, regardless of their size, are always brought to the same relative position with respect to the seed-celling knife.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mechanical hand which may yield when large apples are being seed-celled and sliced to the end that the seedcel ls of a large apple are brought to the same relative atent 2,808,854 Patented Oct. 8 1

position with respect to the seed-celling knife as the seed-cells of ,a small apple.

K My invention further contemplates the provision of a 2-part hand and arm which urges the apples along the spindle into the slicing and seed celling position, the two parts of the hand and arm being pivoted with respect to each other and spring pressed into a fiXe'd but adjustable position relative to each other, the spring being adapted to yield when a large apple is encountered, whereby the apple is brought to the proper relationship with respect to the seed-celling knife, the hand and arm being further provided with adjustments to secure accurate control of the position of descent of thehand in accordance with the size and degree of hardness of the apples being encountered.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be machine constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view showing the mechanical hand and arm in section, showing the operating parts therefor and in dotted lines the mechanical hand and arm in its lowermost position with an apple in the seed-celling position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the mechanical hand and arm in its lowered position; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the mechanical hand and arm;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of one form of slicing knives; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view ta line 8-8 of Fig. 7. e i V As shown in the drawings, the machine of the present invention comprises a spindle 11; a mechanical hand and arm, generally indicated by the numeral 12; a slicing ring or spider generally indicated by the numeral 13 shown in detail in Figs. 7 and 8; a seed-celling knife 14 carried by the spindle 11; apple feed mechanism generally indicated by the numeral 16; and operating mechanism for these major elements of the machine presently to ,be described. The major elements of the machine together with the operating mechanism therefor are carried by a frame made up of suitable structural shapes welded or bolted together. i V g The spindle 11 comprises an elongated vertically extending rod which is supported at its lower end by a spindle support bushing (Figs. 3 and 4). The spindle extends below the sleeve and at its lower end may have a bevel gear 19 rigidly secured thereto which meshes with a bevel gear 21 carried on a shaft 22. A chain 23 which passes over a sprocket mounted on the shaft 22 and over a sprocket mounted on the shaft 24 drives thespindle 11. A shaft 24 is mounted in suitable bearings, ndicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and has 'a spur gear 26 keyed thereto. The spur gear 26 is driven by a driving pinion 27 (Figs. 2 and 3) rigidly secured to a shaft 28. The shaft 28 is suitably journaled in the frame of the machine as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and is driven by a'rnotor (not shown).

The slicing ring or spider 13 comprises an annular ring 31, slottedbosses 32 by which the ring is attached to the frame by suitable nut and bolt assemblies, and a pluralen substantially on the ity of slicing knives 33 and 34. Suitable means, indicated at 36, are provided to independently and removably attach each slicing knife to the ring 31. The ring 31 extends eoncentric with the spindle and the knives extend inward radially with respect to the axis of the spindle.

In the drawings, slicing knives similar to those described and claimed in the above-mentioned copending application have been shown. However, this is not essential to the present invention as the particular shape and arrangement of the slicing knives constitutes no part ofthe present invention. It is sufficient to state that any suit able knife structure may be employed, that shown in the- The slicing knives afford resistance tothemovement of the apple downward along the spindle which resistance is overcome by the pressure exerted by the mechanical hand. It will be appreciated that with the seed-ceiling knife-M in a fixed position relative to the spindle 11, each apple should be pushed tothe proper position relative to the seed-celling knife regardless of the size of the apple. It is this aspect of the machine. to which this invention is directed.

The seed-celling knife 14'is applied to the spindle at a flattened part 37 thereof by means ofscrews 38'. This knife 14 projects laterally from the-spindle ll and is semicircular in form. When a. cored apple is pushed down on the spindle, the knife 14 makes an almost imperceptible track or channel in the core opening thereof without'further mutilation of theapple. despite the'continuous rotation of the spindle for the reasonthat the apple is pushed rapidly to seed-celling position.

Keyed to the shaft 24 (Figs. 3 and 4) is a cam'41' adapted to actuate the mechanical hand and. arm generally indicated by the numeral 12 in a manner which will presently appear. Preferably integral with the cam 41 is a boss 42 which carries Jafeed finger 43.

Extending transversely of the machine is a pair of bars 44 (Fig. 2) which constitutes part of the frame of the machine. Mounted slidably on the upper surfaces of the bars 44 is a feed bar 46 which is held laterally in position by a guide 47 and vertically by suitable caps 4S. The feed bar 46 is integral with a feed ring 49 which has a feed opening 51 formed centrally thereof. A spring 52 having one end secured to one of the caps 48 or other fixed part of the machine and the other end secured to the feed bar 46 normally retains the feed bar and feed ring in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2. The feed finger 43 being, in effect, integral with the cam 41 is positively timed with it. As the feed fingerrotates clockwise from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 to the solid line position shown in Fig. 3, it engages a studSS depending from andfixed to theslide andurges the feed slide and feed ring to the right as viewed in Fig. 3.

When the feed ring moves toythe right, an apple which has been previously placed on the spindle with the margins of its core concentric with the spindle will drop through the feed opening, the parts being then in the position shown in Fig. 3 in which position the apple may freely drop down the spindle to a position resting on the top of the apple just previously seed-celled. As the shaft 24 continues to rotate, the feed finger 43 moves out of engagement with the stud 55 and the spring 52 restores the feed ring to a position eccentricwith respect to the spindle 11 or to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2'. In this position of the feed ring an .apple placed on the spindle is held by the feed ring in a position such that it may be released upon the next actuation of the: slide.

Continued rotation of ,the cam 41 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig.4 brings the mechanical hand and arm into engagement withthe apple resting on the top of the apple just previously seed-celled. Continued movement downward on the uppermost apple urges it part way throughthe slicing knives into a seed.- celling position. with respect to theknife 14.: This movement of the apple simultaneously pushes the apple just previously seed-celled completely through the slicing knives and out of the machine into a place of collection of the sliced apples.

As previously mentioned, one of the principal problems encountered in connection with apple slicing and seed-ceiling machines is the fact'that the apples vary in size. In the machines of the prior art the mechanical hand always reached the same point in its downward descent.

Hence the seed-cell of a large apple would not be centeredcal hand and arm to adapt it to conform approximately to the sizes of the apples being encountered and their degree of hardness.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, a bifurcated support lug 56 is rigidly secured to the frame by means of nut and bolt assemblies 57. The legs 58 of the support lug extend outwardly from the frame and are bored for the reception of a pivot pin 59. An arm 61 is enlarged at its rear end and bifurcated to form spaced pivot lugs 62 which straddle the legs 58 of'the support lug 56. The pivot lugs 62 are bored as shown at 63 for the reception of the pivot pin 59. The upper face of the arm 61 has an elongated groove 64 forming a longitudinal recess for the reception of a hardened wearing plate 66. The wearing plate 66 is engaged by the cam 41 and is secured to the arm 61 by a cap screw and nut assembly 67.

A tail arm 69 extends rearwardly'of the machine and below the support lug 56 and has a tail piece 71 welded thereto, the end of which is turned'as shown at 72, for the reception of one end of a spring 73. The other end of the spring-is attached to a'rigidpart of the frame. The function of the spring 73isto maintain the wearing plate 66 in engagement with the face of'the cam at all times. The tail arm 69 is attached to the arm 61 by a pair of cap screw and nut assemblies 76.

The lower side of the arm 61 has a part 77 secured thereto which is bored for the reception of a pivot pin 78. A hand 79 has a pair of legs 81 forming a hand extension which straddle the arm 61 (see Fig. 5). Each of the legs has an enlarged boss 82 which is bored for the reception of the pivot pin 78. The legs 81 forming part of the hand extension are tied together by integral cross pieces 83 and 84. The forward parts-of the hand 79 are brought more closely together, as shown at 86, and are provided with threaded bores for the reception of screws 87 which carry an apple engaging part 88 which might be considered the fingers of the combined hand and extension. The apple engaging part 88 is generally circular in plan (see Fig. 5) but has a portion 89 cut away which merges into a U-shaped slot 91 adapted to register with the spindle when the combined hand and arm is in the lowered position shown in Fig. 4.

The cross piece of the hand extension has an opening 92 therein through which an elongated screw 93 carried by the tail arm 69 passes. A wing nut 94 is threaded on the end of the screw and forms a seat for one end of a spring 96. The other end of the spring seats on a washer 97 resting on the margins of the opening 92 in the cross piece 84.

It will now be appreciated that the arm 61 and the hand79 and its extension are free to'pivot with respect to each other about the pivot pin 78 against the action of the spring 96. The amount of tension between the parts may be adjusted by compressing or lengthening the spring through-adjustment of the wing nut 94. Normally the parts are in the position, shown. in. Fig. 3 with the-spring 96 holding the parts in close relationship, stopped against "eachother. The location of the spring 96, the pivot 78 and the location of the apple engaging part 88 are such that the force of the spring is multiplied by the ratio of the lengths of the hand 79 and its extension on opposite sides of pivot pin 78.

The cam 41 is selected in size or rather the maximum amount which it may move the combined hand and arm is such as to push the smallest apple likely to be processed to the proper position with respect to the seed-celling knife when the combined hand and arm moves to its lowermost position beyond the position shown in Fig. 4. If a larger apple is encountered the resistance offered by the slicing knives is such that the hand 79 will swing about the pivot pin 78 and the spring 96 will be compressed somewhat to resist this yielding or swinging movement. Thus the lowermost position of the apple engaging part 88 for a larger apple is higher than the position it would reach when the smallest apple is processed. Such a condition with the spring 96 partly compressed is shown in Fig. 4. Thus a larger apple will reach the proper position with respect to the seed-celling knife automatically. If still a larger apple is being processed, the resistance to the downward movement of the combined hand and arm will be greater, causing a still greater swinging movement of the hand 79 and its extension with respect to the arm 61. Thus the combined hand and arm automatically compensates for the size of the apple being processed so that all apples reach substantially the proper position for seed-celling.

By adjusting the wing nut 94, accurate seed-celling can be obtained regardless of the variable size of the apples being processed and regardless of their degree of hardness. For example, if hard apples are being processed, the wing nut would be threaded on the elongated screw 93 so as to compress the spring 96. This adjustment increases the resistance to physical movement of the arm and hand with respect to each other to thereby urge such hard apples into the proper relationship with respect to the seed-celling knife.

The combined hand and arm is provided with a further adjustment. This adjustment comprises a screw 101 threaded into the arm 61 and which bears against the under side of the wearing plate 66. The screw 101 is provided with thumb piece 102 and a wing nut 103 is threaded on the screw. By threading outward on the wing nut 103 and inward on the thumb piece 102, pressure is applied to the under side of the wearing plate 66 to force this plate away from the arm 61 due to the spring of the metal, notwithstanding the fact that these two parts are tied together by a cap screw and bolt assembly 67. The wing nut is then tightened down again to hold the parts together. By moving the wearing plate 66 slightly away from the arm 61 in the manner just described, cam 41 will urge the combined hand and arm to a lower position to thereby enable the processing of still smaller apples than normally contemplated. Should the canner or other processor of apples encounter a run of abnormally small apples, this adjustment of the combined hand and arm can be made to take care of the situation.

It is apparent that the invention provides novel means for insuring that an apple regardless of its size or degree of hardness, will be always urged to the proper position with respect to the seed-celling knife so as to secure accurate and non-wasteful seed-celling.

While the preferred form of the invention has been shown, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made therein, particularly in the form and relation of parts, without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fruit slicing and seed celling machine comprising, in combination, a frame, a rotary spindle for the reception of cored fruit, a seed celling knife carried by said spindle, a plurality of slicing knives extending around said spindle and adjacent said seed celling knife in a manner such that fruit urged along said spindle is at least partly pierced by said-slicing knives prior to reaching seed celling position relative to said seed celling knife, a handfor engaging the fruit and urging it downward along said spindle into seed celling position, means for moving said hand comprising an arm pivoted on said frameand yielding means between said hand and arm and, means for, enabling the hand to automatically adjust its lowermost position in accordance with the size of the apple being processed to the end that the fruit is always brought to substantially the same position relative to said seed celling knife. a

2. A fruit slicing andseed celling machine in accordance with claim 1 in which the yielding means may be.

adjusted to' vary the yielding action of said hand, in accordance with the hardness of the fruit beingprocessed.

3. A fruit slicing and seed celling machine comprising, in combination, a rotary spindle for the reception of cored fruit, a seed celling knife carried by said spindle, a plurality of slicing knives extending around said spindle and adjacent said seed celling knife in a manner such that fruit urged along said spindle is at least partly pierced by said slicing knives prior to reaching seed celling position relative to said seed celling knife, a hand movable from a position out of operative relation to fruit on the spindle to a position such as to engage fruit on the spindle and push it downward into seed celling position, said action pushing a fruit previously seed celled out of seed celling position and through the slicing knives, supporting means toward the top of the spindle for holding the next succeeding fruit to be processed on the spindle, means for actuating said hand and means for withdrawing said supporting means in timed relation to the operation of said actuating means.

4. A fruit slicing and seed celling machine in accordance with claim 3 in which the supporting means comprises a member having an opening extending in surrounding relation to the spindle through which fruit may fall and which is moved into and out of concentric relation to the spindle.

5. A fruit slicing machine comprising, in combination, a plurality of slicing knives, a rotatable seed celling knife, a hand for engaging the fruit and urging it into slicing relation with said knives, and into operative relation with respect to said rotatable seed celling knife, an arm, a pivot between said hand and arm, means associated with said hand and arm for swinging said arm and hand to move the hand into engagement wtih the fruit and yielding means between said hand and arm enabling relative movement between them about said pivot.

6. A fruit slicing machine in accordance with claim 5 wherein the yelding means is a spring and means are provided for adjusting the tension on said spring in accordance with the hardness of the fruit encountered.

7. A fruit slicing machine comprising, in combination, a plurality of slicing knives, a rotatable seed celling knife, a hand for engaging the fruit and urging it into slicing relation with said knives, and into operative relation with respect to said rotatable seed celling knife, an arm, a hand extension rigidly connected to said hand and extending adjacent said arm, a pivot between said arm and the hand and its extension, means associated with said hand and arm for swinging said arm and said hand and its extension as a unit to move said hand into engagement with the fruit and yielding means between said arm and said hand extension enabling a swinging movement of said hand about said pivot in accordance with the resistance encountered by the hand as it urges the fruit into slicing relation with said knives.

8. A fruit slicing machine in accordance with claim 7 wherein the yielding means is a spring and means are provided for adjusting the tension on said spring in accordance with the hardness of the fruit encountered.

9. A fruit slicing machine comprising, in combination, a plurality of slicing knives, a rotatable seed celling knife,

a spindle associatedjwithsaidknives along.which cored fruitmay move towardjslicing relationwith saidfkniyes andjtowardjoperatiye relation with saidiotatable' seed' celling knife, a hand forengaging the. fruit and urging it said, cam anda ,wear plate connected'atone of -its ends to said arm andlying b'etween said arm and-cam and means for applying pressure on said wear plate to spring it away fromsaid arm about said connection 10; A fruit slicing machine in accordance with claim 9 in which the hand is, pivoted to said arm andyieldi'ng means are provided ,for resisting pivotal movement of said hand'around said pivot when the hand engages'the fruit.

'11; A fruit slicing machine in accordance with claim 9 in which'the hand-is pivoted-to said "arm and provided with an extension extending generally parallel to. the arm,

a spring normally urges said extension into parallelism with said arm and means are provided'for adjusting the tension of said spring..

References'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,583,100 Reynolds: May 4, 1926 2,509,781 Pease May 30, 1950. 2,671,485 Smith et al Mar. 9, .1954: 

